§ 4-4-3 Notice; Disposition of property.
(A) Owner Known. If the property is available for release, and the owner of the property is known, the Police Department shall make a reasonable attempt to provide notice to the owner. The notice shall advise the owner that they must claim the property (providing proof of ownership) and take away the property no later than 30 days following the date on the notice or the property will be disposed of by the Police Department as provided in this article.
(B) Service of Notice. Service of notice to known owner.
(1) Service of notice may be accomplished by any of the following methods:
(a) First class mail, postage prepaid, to the last known address provided by the owner to the Police Department. Service of notice by mail shall be considered complete upon mailing; or
(b) Posting the notice on the Police Department Property Disposition webpage, or its equivalent, not less than 30 days prior to disposition by the City. If the owner fails to claim (providing proof of ownership) and take away the property within 30 days of initial posting of the notice, the City may dispose of the property as it deems appropriate and in compliance with subsection (D) of this section.
(C) Unknown Owner. If the owner of the property is not known, the property may be disposed of as follows:
(1) If the property value of the item is $150 or less, it may be disposed of by the City as it deems appropriate and in compliance with subsection (D) of this section.
(2) If property value of the item exceeds $150, notice containing a description of the property shall be posted on the Police Department Property Disposition webpage, or its equivalent, not less than 30 days prior to disposition by the City. If the owner fails to claim (by providing proof of ownership) and take away the property within 30 days from the date of posting, the City may dispose of the property as it deems appropriate and in compliance with subsection (D) of this section.
(D) Disposition of Property. Unless otherwise provided in this article and in compliance with subsections (A), (B) and (C) of this section, if applicable, property may be disposed by the City as provided below without further notice or court order. All property dispositions shall be consistent with the nature and type of item to be disposed.
(1) Returned to the owner, as provided by this article;
(2) Destroyed, if authorized by this article;
(3) Retained and utilized by the Police Department or other City department, to the extent allowed by law;
(4) Sold, loaned or transferred to any local, state, federal or other governmental entity, nonprofit or charitable organization, to the extent allowed by law. Expenses for keeping and transferring such property are to be paid by the recipient;
(5) Donated to a museum, educational institution or other similar entity for display or educational purposes, to the extent allowed by law. Expenses for keeping and transferring such property are to be paid by the recipient; or
(6) Treated as surplus and disposed of in accordance with this article and the City’s procurement code. (Ord. 10-1212, passed 4-26-10; Am. Ord. 13-1280, passed 1-14-2013)